Say Yes!

Denial isn't Just a River in Egypt

i didnt realize i put school festival instead of sports day but yeah the occasion is sports day wkwkwkwk

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It had been days since Jin last saw Byulyi—she went back to her skipping-classes-type-of-rebellious ways—and at least a week since they talked.

The change was...unnoticeable.

"Seokjin-ssi? Kim Seokjin-ssi?"

Jin jolted out of his stupor. His chin momentarily sliding out of his palm as panicky eyes—who were most definitely not staring at the empty seat right next to him—searched for the owner of the voice.

He straightened in his seat as he felt the room's attention turn towards him. Instantly, his ears started turning into a pretty shade of pink. "Huh? What?"

Very unnoticeable indeed.

Irene blinked at him and he could see just a hint of disapproval in her eyes. "We were asking you what the next agenda was? We're done with the schedule of games."

"Oh umm. I think—uuhh" —he cleared his throat as his fingers quickly flipped through his notes— "Food stalls. Ummm—designated area for food stalls."

Irene nodded at that and went back to talking about her part of the meeting.

Which Jin would know since he's definitely listening.

Jin squinted at the blackboard and peered at the scribbles written on it. Some info that he got was that the preliminary rounds would obviously be held first thing in the morning so that the afternoon could be open for the finals of each sport.

Yup. He knew that. Not like he was spacing out staring at the chair beside him which was notably empty and did not hold any person at all.

Jin slapped his forehead lightly. "Focus, Jin," he muttered to himself, gripping the pen in his hand harder as he bore holes at the blackboard with laser-focus eyes.

The next day wasn't any better—or any other day of the week for that matter.

Jin sighed as he dumped his bag on his seat, eyes automatically drifting towards the seat next to him which, unlike his, did not contain a bag nor a student for the fifth consecutive day.

He heard Hoseok's loud hooting coming from behind him before he felt the latter's weight on his shoulder. "Somebody's missing a certain someone."

He rolled his eyes as he shrugged Hoseok's arm off. "I don't miss Byulyi."

Hoseok placed his pointer finger and his thumb on his chin, an expression of faux puzzlement written across his face. "Strange. I don't think I ever mentioned you or Byulyi."

Jin couldn't manage any other reply other than a string of gibberish and flaming cheeks. Hoseok's wide smile slowly grew wider.

"Do you want to die?"

His threat fell on deaf ears and loud rambunctious laughter. Hoseok waved his words a way, the grin never leaving his lips as he sauntered back in his seat, shooting teasing glances at Jin and the empty seat beside him every once in a while.

Class proceeded as usual. Like the previous days this week, the teacher blabbered on and—for the first time in a long time—he just listened and took notes. No reprimanding his seatmate for not listening, no terribly written notes that were surreptitiously slid onto his desk, no obnoxious noise that could distract him from the lesson.

Just peace.

And quiet.

And learning.

And maybe just a touch of unrest.